Davitts 1-13  Ballaghaderreen 0-15

Davitts and Ballaghaderreen met in the County Minor League Div 3 final in Ballyhaunis on Tuesday evening and, after a terrific match, Davitts came out on top by the narrowest of margins. There was never more than two points separating the two very evenly matched sides but a late penalty, deep into stoppage time, converted by the ice cool Fionn McLoughlin, swung the game in Davitts favour.

The excellent Davitts captain Dylan Gallagher opened the scoring in the first minute with the first of his eleven points. Ballagh equalised a minute later and two more from Dylan Gallagher in the 8^th and 9^th minutes put Davitts two ahead. Ballagh pulled a point back in the 13^th minute and this was cancelled out by Gallagher two minutes later. Two points in the 18^th and 25^th minutes from Ballagh levelled the game before the Davitts captain notched his fifth point in the 28^th minute and Ballagh replied on the stroke of half time to leave the sides level at the break, 0-5 each.

Ballaghaderreen pointed twice in the opening three minutes of the second half to go two ahead again but Dylan Gallagher shot two fine points in the 35^th and 38^th minutes and it was all square again. Ballagh went two ahead again when they fired over points in the 39^th and 41^st minutes. Dylan Gallagher narrowed the gap to one point with another excellent score in the 43^rd minute. A Ballagh point two minutes later was cancelled out by Davitts sub Aaron C B, who had a major impact when introduced. Ballagh responded with a 48^th minute point with Aaron C B pointing again in the 50^th minute. Dylan squared the match up again in the 52^nd minute and a draw was looking like the likely outcome. A 53^rd minute Ballagh point was matched by Dylan Gallagher almost immediately and he scored a 57^th minute point to see his side regain the lead. Ballagh scored points in the 58^th, 59^th and 60^th minutes to go two up as the match entered stoppage time and they looked poised for victory but the Davitts lads kept their composure. A marvellous move through the packed defence involving Conor McDermott, Aaron C B, Dylan Gallagher and Ciaran Treacy ended in Treacy being fouled in the square. In a welter of excitement, Fionn McLoughlin coolly slotted home the penalty with referee Enda Nolan blowing for full time thirty seconds later.

Dylan O Brien was a calm and assured goalkeeper with Sean Keadin and Conor McDermott proving to be two very enterprising corner backs. Noah O Brien, Aaron Trench and Ethan Boyle formed an impressive half back line with Tadhg Feerick playing very well when he was introduced. Mark Birmingham and Burke Briere had a mighty battle at midfield against a very strong Ballagh pairing. Brian Corless, Ronan Kelly and Fionn McLoughlin (1-0), got through an enormous amount of work with Ciaran Treacy a very influencial figure throughout the game. Dylan Gallagher (0-11) was an inspirational captain leading from the front, while Aaron C B (0-2) gave the attack an extra dimension when he entered the game in the second half.

Other members of the panel include Fionn McTigue, Sean Meehan, Dylan Gormally, Ben Corless, Sean Clarke, Darragh Garvey, Conor Feerick and Cillian Kearns.

Well done to the hard working management team of Lawrence Daly, Frank Kelly, Padraig Moran and Liam Nyland.

Commiserations to a fine Ballaghaderreen side.

Mayo Gaels 1-11  Davitts 0-13

Mayo Gaels got the better of Davitts by a point after an exciting Senior League Div 1B match played in Mayo Abbey on Saturday evening. Mayo Gaels took their chances but Davitts will be disappointed not to have won the game, a number of unforced errors leading to their downfall.

Playing with the assistance of the wind, Dylan Gallagher opened the scoring for Davitts in the second minute but two points from the Gaels in the 4^th and 5^th minutes saw them take the lead. Davitts got well on top for the remainder of the half with their two young midfielders Dylan Gallagher, who had a great game, and Jack Melvin doing well and points from Niall Treacy and Colm Boyle saw them regain the lead. Niall Treacy fired over another in the fifteenth minute and after the Gaels shot an 18^th minute point, similar scores from Dylan Gallagher (3) and Niall Treacy put Davitts five ahead before the home side finished the half with an injury time point to leave Davitts ahead by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break.

Niall Treacy restored Davitts five point advantage when he opened the second half scoring in the first minute but Mayo Gaels took full advantage of a defensive error and hammered home the game’s only goal in the 32^nd minute and they narrowed the deficit to the minimum from the resulting kick out. Another Niall Treacy point in the 36^th minute put Davitts two up but four points between the 43^rd and 47^th minutes from the home side saw them go two ahead as the game entered its closing stages.  Dylan Gallagher pointed for Davitts in the 53^rd minute but two Gaels points in the next two minutes saw them extend their lead to three. Dylan Gallagher fired over two more points in the last five minutes but Davitts could not find an equaliser as the Mayo Gaels team defended well.

Best for Davitts were Jordan Flanagan, Thomas Ronayne, Cathal Higgins, Dylan Gallagher, Niall Treacy and Colm Boyle.

Davitts: Tristan Diskin, Charlie Phillips, Jordan Flanagan, Thomas Ronayne, Tom Corless, Cathal Higgins, Mark Ronayne, Dylan Gallagher (0-7), Jack Melvin, Brian Og McTigue, Niall Treacy (0-5), Evan Ronane, Colm Boyle (0-1), Liam Kearns, Danny Corless. Subs used: Darragh McGale, Sean Keadin.

Cill Chomain 0-2  Davitts 6-14

Davitts U-16 team qualified for the Div 6 League final after a clinical display away to Cill Chomain in the semi-final on Thursday evening. They will now play Bonniconlon in the final next Thursday in Charlestown. Davitts and Bonniconlon met earlier on in the league with the North Mayo lads coming out on top after a high scoring encounter and another cracking game is on the cards.

Davitts got on top of Cill Chomain from the off and played some brilliant football over the hour. Ronan Hett kept a clean sheet and was solid when called into action. Jason Boyle and Cillian Kearns defended well in the full back line. Tadhg Feerick made a welcome return at centre back and he had a brilliant game as had his wing men Sean Clarke and Odhran O Connaire. Dylan Burke (0-2) and Noah O Brien (0-2) formed an excellent midfield partnership. Malachy Devane and Mairtin Elizari worked tirelessly all through the game from their wing forward positions while Dylan Gormally (1-1) had a stormer leading the attack. In the full forward line Aaron O Dea (1-5) and Aaron C B (4-4) proved a huge threat every time they got possession with both finishing clinically. Adam and Luke Rattgan both did well when they were introduced into the action.

Davitts 3-14  Kiltimagh 2-9

Davitts qualified for the County Minor League Div 3 final with an impressive victory over a fine Kiltimagh side in the semi-final played in sunny Ballindine on Tuesday evening. A superb midfield performance from Mark Birmingham and a powerful display from sharpshooter Dylan Gallagher allied to a very strong all round team effort saw Davitts through to the final where they will play Ballaghaderreen.

Davitts raced into a six point lead after points from Ronan Kelly and Dylan Gallagher (2) and a superb individual goal by Fionn McLoughlin in the 8^th minute. Kiltimagh got off the mark in the 15^th minute with a goal and they added a point four minutes later to narrow Davitts lead to two points. Dylan Gallagher crashed home Davitts second goal in the 23^rd minute after a brilliant pass from Mark Birmingham. The visitors recovered well from this blow and they pointed in the 25^th, 26^th and 30^th minutes to leave two points separating the teams at the break.

Davitts made a blistering start to the second half as they took command of the game and they shot a goal and six points in the third quarter while keeping the Kiltimagh lads scoreless. Dylan Gallagher scored the goal in the 32^nd minute, again on receipt of a long measured Mark Birmingham delivery. The points were scored by Dylan Gallagher (4), Ronan Kelly and Conor McDermott. A 45^th minute Kiltimagh point was matched by a fine Burke Briere score three minutes later. Kiltimagh refused to lie down and they scored 1-4 in the final eight minutes of the game with Dylan Gallagher (2) and Ronan Kelly pointing for the home side.

As well as Mark Birmingham and Dylan Gallagher, Davitts had brilliant displays from Conor McDermott, Sean Keadin, who had a storming game, Ethan Boyle, Ronan Kelly, Fionn McLoughlin and Ciaran Treacy.

Davitts: Dylan Gormally, Conor McDermott (0-1), Sean Keadin, Sean Meehan, Noah O Brien, Aaron Trench, Ethan Boyle, Burke Briere (0-1), Mark Birmingham, Fionn McTigue, Ronan Kelly (0-4), Brian Corless, Ciaran Treacy, Dylan Gallagher (2-8), Fionn McLoughlin (1-0). Subs used: Tadhg Feerick, Aaron C B, Ben Corless, Sean Clarke, Darragh Garvey.

Claremorris 1-8  Davitts 1-8

Claremorris hosted Davitts in this very well contested County Junior B Championship clash played in ideal conditions on Sunday. Davitts had looked to have done enough to earn the win as they led by two points with the game entering the final minute of normal time but two late converted frees salvaged a draw for the home side.

Davitts led by the minimum, 0-4 to 0-3, after a first half in which both sets of defences were on top. The Davitts point scorers were Liam Kearns (2) and Jack Devane (2). After Claremorris equalised in the first minute of the second half, Davitts hit two fine points from the boot of Dylan Gallagher followed by a Davey Hennessy goal in the 38^th minute to go five points clear. Claremorris got a lifeline in the 40^th minute when they capitalised on a defensive error to score a goal and they followed that up with points in the 41^st and 44^th minutes to level the game up. A brilliant save by David Mitchell denied Claremorris a second goal and his teammates took encouragement from this let-off. Dylan Gallagher shot over two points in the 52^nd and 58^th minute and Davitts looked poised for victory but two late Claremorris points tied the game, the second one coming deep into what many observers deemed an excessive period of injury time.

Brian Birmingham, Jordan Flanagan, Mark Ronayne, Brian Og McTigue, Liam Kearns, Danny Corless, Jack Devane and Dylan Gallagher played very well for Davitts who face Burrishoole in the final group game in a few weeks time.

Davitts: David Mitchell, Brian Birmingham, Jordan Flanagan, Lawrence Daly, Sean Keadin, Mark Ronayne, Brian Og McTigue, John Kilkenny, Mark Birmingham, Stephen Nyland, Liam Kearns (0-2), Danny Corless, Jack Devane (0-2), Johnno Clarke, Davey Hennessy (1-0). Subs used: Dylan Gallagher (0-4), Liam Macken, Aidan Macken, Sean Feerick.

Ballintubber 0-8  Davitts 0-13

Davitts Junior team travelled to Clogher on Sunday and their journey proved to be a fruitful one as they defeated Ballintubber by five points in the Senior League Div 4A.

Davitts had the assistance of the wind in the first half and they built up a 0-6 to 0-1 lead before the break. Davey Hennessy, who had a stormer, notched three points with Jack Devane (2) and Fionn McLoughlin also hitting the target.

Ballintubber started the second half well and they shot three unanswered points in the opening five minutes of the half. Davey Hennessy (2) and Stephen Nyland pointed for the visitors to steady the ship. A Mark Ronayne point was sandwiched by two from the homeside as Davitts led by four points with the game entering the final quarter. Ballintubber were trying hard but found the Davitts defence, superbly led by team captain Mark Ronayne at centre back, very hard to penetrate. They managed two more points before the finish but Davitts tagged on another three through Davey Hennessy, Tristan Diskin and Jack Devane to secure the win and two valuable league points.

All sixteen players played well for Davitts with Brian Birmingham, Sean Feerick and Lawrence Daly forming an excellent full back line in front of goalie David Mitchell who was solid throughout the game. Mark Ronayne (0-1), the team captain, had a superb game, with Aaron Trench and Gary Bourke very effective on either side of him. Stephen Nyland (0-1) and John Kilkenny formed an impressive midfield partnership. Up front Fionn McLoughlin (0-1), Mark Birmingham, Davey Hennessy (0-6) and Jack Devane (0-3) were in top form with Tristan Diskin (0-1), Gavin Ring and sub Brian Og McTigue also doing very well.